Ski and ski shoe assembly



June 17, 1941.

D. A. WALLACE SKI AND SKI SHOE ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR mum A. W/lLL/ICE.

A ZTORNE Y June 17, 1941. D A, wALLAc 2,246,153

SKI AND SKI SHOE ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 91/ 9; 7/ c DAV/0 A. WALITA C E ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1941 UNETED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE 2,246,153 SKI AND SKI SHOE ASSEMBLY David A. Wallace, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 26, 1939, Serial No. 310,926

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved ski and ski shoe assembly.

More particularly, the invention pertains to improved mechanism in an assembly of this kind for detachably securing a ski shoe to a ski;

One of the main objects of the invention is the provision of coacting interengaging parts on a ski and ski shoe which firmly hold the ski in an operative assembled relation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of spring urged means which may be preloaded prior to assembly of the ski and shoe, and which may be manually released to urge the interengaging parts of the ski and shoe into firmly clamped engagement without requiring physical kneeling or bending on the part of the user.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved releasable detent in a device of this kind for releasably holding the spring means in a loaded condition and which can'be conveniently released with the aid of a ski stick which is customarily used in the sport.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of improved ski and ski shoe carried attachment parts which can be readily brought into registering engagement preparatory to clamping the ski and shoe together by merely pressing the toe part of the shoe in a wide mouthed clamping element and treading downwardly with the rear portion of the shoe.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of adjustable means by which yieldabl'e resistance to flexing of the ski shoe atits instep portion can be selectively predetermined.

Other objects of the invention are to provide in a ski and ski shoe assembly of this character improved adjustable means for urging the heel end portion of the shoe against the ski; to provide resilient means of this character which may be tensioned by the mechanism which urges the ski shoe forwardly to clamp the toe end portion thereof to the ski; to provide improved resilient toe and heel holding apparatus which is so confined within the planes bounding the lateral extremities of the ski as to accommodate movement of a pair of skis into longitudinal, edgewise adjacency during skiing operation.

Additional objects of the invention are the provision of resilient, non-metallic means in ski shoe fastening mechanism which may be preloaded in tension to urge the toe end of a ski shoe into engaged relationship with a ski clamp and which may be relied upon to retain the shoe in a firmly clamped condition; to provide a ru-bber resilient element of this character which the rubber element urges the heel of the shoe toward the ski.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a ski and ski shoe assembly'embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the ski shown in Fig. 1, with the shoe'removed and illustrating the structure thereof as viewed from the line 22 of Fig. 1.

- Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, partly in section, of a ski and ski shoe assembly including another form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the ski shown in Fig. '7 with the shoe removed. Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on line IU-|0 of Fig. 9.

1 Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view,

partly in section, of a ski and ski shoe assembly embodying 'afurther development of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan veiw of the ski illustrated in Fig. 11, showing the shoe removed.

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view taken on line l3-l3 of Fig. 12.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the ski and shoe of the 1 improved assembly are designated generally by the numerals ill and l l, respectively. The ski Ill is provided on its upper side with "a tapering toe clamp element l2 having upstanding sides 13 on which are formed inwardly extending flanges I4 which are adapted to embrace the upper edge portions of the sole iii of the shoe. The side walls 13 of the clamp I2 converge forwardly so aslto lwedgingly receive the toe end portion of the so e '5.

- A plate i6 is adjusta'bly mounted on the clamp l2 and upper side of the ski l and located between the side walls l3 of the clamp. The plate l6 has a hook |1 formed at its forward end which detachably connects with a corresponding hook I8 on the rear end of a coil spring IS. The front end of the spring I9 is secured. to a toggle unit, generally designated by the numeral 2!], which includes a bracket 2| mounted on the ski l0, a trigger 22 pivoted at 23 on the bracket 2|, and a link 24 pivotally attached to the trigger 22 at one end and pivotally attached to the front end of the spring l9 at its opposite extremity.

The shiftable plate |5, which preferably comprises resilient sheet metal, has a, forwardly opening hook 25 on its rear extremity which is adapted to detachably interlock with a correspondingly formed rearwardly opening hook 26 formed on the front extremity of a metal plate 21 carried by the shoe. In the form illustrated in the drawings, the plate 21 is disposed between the heel element 28 of the shoe and the rear end portion of the sole l5 thereof and is rigidly fixed to the shoe by the means by which the heel 28 is secured thereto. The hooks and 2B are located immediately in advance of the heel 28 and disposed directly below the instep portion of the shoe.

If desired, the rear end portion of the shoe may be yieldably urged downwardly toward the ski by a coil spring 29 having one end attached to a hook 39 mounted on the ski and its opposite end attached to a strap 3| on the upper portion of the shoe. The rear end portion of the shiftable plate l6 also serves to yieldably urge the heel portion of the shoe toward the ski and this action of the plate It may be adjustably predetermined by selectively positioning a reinforcing plate 32 which is slidably mounted on the rear end portion of the shiftable plate IS. The adjustable reinforcing plate 32 comprises a main body portion which is preferably disposed adjacent the lower side of the plate It and spaced ears 33 which are bent over upon the upper side of the plate l6.

If desired, pairs of ears 33 may be provided at the opposite extremities of the adjustable reinforcing plate 32, or as illustrated in Fig. 2, the ears 33 at one end of this reinforcing plate may be relied upon to prevent separation of the latter from the adjustable plate I6, and a pair of flanges 34 may be provided at the opposite end of the reinforcing plate to contact with the side edges of. the plate IS in securing the parts in assembled relation.

Formed in the front end portion of the shiftable plate I6 is an aperture 35 for receiving a detent 36 mounted in a recess 31 formed in the ski H1. The detent 36 is yieldably urged upwardly by a spring 38 bearing between the latter and the ski. The aperture 35 and detent 36 are so located as to bring the hooks 25 and 26 into interengageable relationship when the shiftable plate I6 is located so that the detent will fit into the aperture 35. When the parts of the assembly are so disposed the spring l9 may be pre-loaded prior to assembly of the shoe and ski, by urging the trigger 22 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. When it is desired to attach the ski to the shoe it is merely necessary for the wearer of the shoe to insert the toe end portion thereof into the toe clamp l2 and then tread downwardly so as to snap the hooks 2'5 and 26 into engaged relationship with each other. The wearer of the shoe may then readily firmly secure the shoe to the ski without manual effort and without kneeling or bending by merely pressing the detent 36 downwardly to disengage it from the aperture 35. This operation may be conveniently accomplished with the aid of the customary ski stick used in the sport. When the detent is displaced from its aperture the preloaded spring |9 urges the plate It forwardly and the hook on the rear end of the plate l6 coacts with the hook 26 attached to the shoe to firmly press the toe of the shoe forwardly into the clamp l2.

Much of the structure embodied in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is substantially identical to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and identical elements of the structure are correspondingly designated by the same numerals. In this form of the invention, the shiftable plate which serves as a draw bar to urge the shoe forwardly under spring tension is divided into two sections. The forward section 39 has a front end portion connected with a coil spring IQ of the toggle unit in the manner set forth above. The section 39 terminates in advance of the instep portion of the shoe II and is provided with spaced. apertures 49 in which the forward extremities of a plurality of coil springs 4| are engaged. These springs are disposed in recesses 42 formed in a'metal plate 43, preferably of aluminum, which is disposed between the ski and the shoe. The springs 4| extend longitudinally of the ski and are attached at their rear extremities to a rear section 44 of the draw bar.

, The rear section 44 has a forwardly opening hook 45 disposed immediately below the instep portion of the shoe and which is adapted to interlock, in the foregoing manner, with the hook 26 rigidly fixed to the shoe. Slidably mounted on the front section 39 of the draw bar is a reinforcing plate element 46 having a'slot in its rear end portion which registers with the springs 4| to accommodate flexing of the rear end portions of the springs 4| as the heel end portion of the shoe is moved from the ski. The adjustable plate 46 may be selectively positioned to permit a predetermined portion of the lengths of the springs 4| to deflect upwardly during this operation. The top wall of the adjustable plate 46 is preferably bent upwardly in an arcuate contour in order to provide an abutment for the springs 4| which will not interfere with their normal action.

When the draw bar structure, comprising the sections 39 and 44, is urged forwardly by the spring Hi to firmly wedge the toe end portion of the shoe in the toe clamp I2, the springs 4| are simultaneously tensioned to yieldably hold the heel end portion of the shoe against movement upwardly from the ski. These springs 4| may be relied upon to accomplish this function independently of a. rear spring such as that shown at 29 in Fig. l or the latter spring may, if desired, be used in combination therewith.

In each of the forms of the invention described the ski shoe l0 may be provided with a metal plate 41 on the lower surface of its wall portion to facilitate free action of the shiftable plate IS in Fig. 1 or the draw bar structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The actions of the shiftable plate in both forms of the invention may be further facilitated, if desired, by placing spaced cleats 48, of slightly greater thickness than the thickness of the plates I5 and 39, between the web portion of the toe clamp l2 and the metal plate 41 of the shoe structure, as illustrated in Fig. 3. These cleats may be secured either to the 5 e or to the toe clamp as desired.

7 In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. '7 to 13, inclusive, the ski l0, shoe H; toe clamp l2, heel hook 26, spring 19, linkage 24, trigger; and detent 36 are substantially identical to the corresponding parts of the structure illustrated in, the forms Of the invention shown'in Figs. 1 to 6; inclusive. The mechanism by which the shoe is urged downward upon releasing of the detent 36 and the connections between. the shoe and the spring is, however, entirely difierent. in the forms shown in Figs. '7 to 13, inclusive. This mechanism comprises, in the structure shown in Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, a non-metallic resilient strip 14-, prefer ably comprising natural or synthetic rubber, having an upwardly extending forwardly open metal hook l permanently attached, preferably by vulcanization, to the rear end portion for detachable engagement with the heel h'ook'26 of theshoe Ill. The resilient strip 14 is disposed between the ski and the sole of the shoe Ill in a channel provided by spaced cleats 16 mounted on the upper side of the ski. A metal plate 11 having an aperture 18 therein for detachable connection. with the spring I9 is permanently bonded, preferably by vulcanization, to the forward end portion of 'the strip 14. The front end portion ofthe latter is provided with an aperture in which is mounted a small metal sleeve 19 for receiving the detent 36 for the purpose of holding the spring H3 in alo'adedor tensioned condition preparatory to attachment of the ski to a shoe in exactly the same manner as that set forth in the description of Figs; 1 to 6, inclusive. .I I 1 The rear end portion of the -strip 14 may be adjustably predetermined to variably urge the heelend part of the shoe toward the ski by adjustment of a bar 89 extending transversely of the'ski at ai location registering with the instep portion of'the shoe; This bar has an upwardly and rea'rwardly inclined flange 8! for protecting the strip-.14 from: injury by the bar 80 when thestrip is deflected thereby during upward movementof the'l'ieel part of the shoe relative to the ski. The opposite sides of the bar 89 are provided with downwardly extending flanges 82 which project along the'late'ral edges of the ski and terminate in inwardly ex-' tending tongues 83. The'latter are adapted to be engaged in selected notches 84 formed in metal plates 85 disposed in recesses 86 in theopposite.

edge portions of the ski, as illustrated in Figs. 7, 9-and 10, for the purpose of selectively ing the'strip l4.

In Figs; 11 to 13 is illustrated a'form of the invention similar to that shown in Figs.7 to and corresponding parts of the structure are designated by the same numerals. A plurality of rela tively long coil springs 81 are employed inlieu of the non-metallic; resilient strip 14 of Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive. The forward ends of. the springs 81 are attached to a metal plate 88 which is provided with 'an aperture for receiving the detent 36 and the rear ends of these springs are attached to a plate 89 having an upwardly extending forwardly opening hook portion 90 for detachable connection with the heel hook 26. The springs 31 extend between the sole of the shoe l0 and the upper side of the ski l I through a channel formed by the spaced cleats 16 fixed to the ski.

A bar 9 I; extending transversely of the ski and located in registration with the instep portion of the shoe I I, serves to variably predetermine theforce with which the heel end portion of the shoe is yieldably urged toward the ski. This bar has a rearwardly inclined flange 92for abutting the springs and downwardly offset end portions 93 positionprovided with apertures for receiving screws 94 by which the bar 9| may be selectively fixed in a plurality of positions longitudinally of the ski.

The spring 29, shown in Fig. 1, may if' desired be used to assist in holding the rear endportion of the shoe against the skiin any of the other forms of the invention shown herein.

The user of a ski and ski shoe assembly embodying the invention may release the detent 3B and bring the pre-loaded spring l9 into operation without kneeling or bending over, thereby eliminating one of the hazards and difliculties associatedfiwith skiing for the tendency of one ski to slip while the other is being attached to the shoe i duringa kneeling posture of the user is completely dispensed with.- Although but several specific embodiments of the invention are herein shown and described, it willrbe understood that various changes including the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of invention.

What I claim is: I

the

1. In a ski and ski shoe assembly; means for detachably securing said .ski and shoein operative clamped relationship including a toe clamp on said ski for wedgingly receiving the toe end portion of said shoe, an abutment on said shoe, means on said ski for coacting with said abutment to urge said toe endportion of said-shoe into firmly clamped engagement with said toe clamp, said means including a plate slidably disposed between said shoe andsaid ski having an abutment engageable with said abutment of said shoe and a spring for urging said plate forwardly, and a detent for releasablyliolding said-plate against movement from a rearward position to facilitate pre-loading of said spring preparatory to assembling said ski and saidshoe. 2. In a ski and ski shoe assembly; means for clamped relationship including a toe clamp on said ski for wedgingly receiving the toe endportion of said shoe, an abutment on said shoe, means on said ski for coacting with said abutment to urgesaid toe end portion of said shoe into firmly clamped engagement withsaid toe clamp, said meansincluding a plate slidably disposed between said shoe and said ski having an abutment ent gageable with said abutment of said shoe, a spring securedat one. end to said plate for urging the latter forwardly, leverage mechanism mounted on said ski and attached to the other end of said spring for tensioning the latter, and a detent on I. said ski for releasably holding said plate against.

movement by said spring to facilitate pre-loading of said spring preparatory to assembling said ski and said shoe.

3. In a ski and ski shoe assembly; means for detachably securing'said ski and shoe in operative clamped relationship including a toe clamp on said.

ski for wedgingly receiving the toe end portion of said shoe, a hook on said shoehaving a rearwardly facing open side, a plate slidably disposed on said ski having a hook on its rear end provided with a forwardly facing open side and interengageable.

with said hook of said shoe, a spring for urging said plate'and said shoe forwardly whensaid hooks are interengaged .to bring the-toe end por- 4 tion of said shoe into clamped engagement with said toe clamp; means for releasably loading said spring, and-a detent-,- for releasably holding said plate against movement bysaid spring and re-- taming said hook of said plate in engageable registration with the hook of said shoe to facilitate.

detachably securing said ski and shoe in operative pre-loading of said spring preparatory to assernblin'g said shoe and said ski.

4. In a ski and ski shoe assembly; means for detachalbly securing said ski and shoe in operative clamped relationship including a toe clamp on said ski for wedgingly receiving the toe end portion of said shoe, a bracket secured to said shoe having an abutment disposed at the instep portion thereof, a plate beneath said 'shoe slidable with respect to said ski and having an abutment adapted for interlocking engagement with said abutment of said shoe, a toggle lever pivotally mounted on said ski in advance of said toe clamp, a spring having one end attached to said lever and its opposite end detachably securable to said plate for urging the latter forwardly, a detent on said ski for releasably holding said plate against forward movement, and a resilient element for urging the heel end portion of said shoe against said ski.

5. A ski and ski shoe assembly including a clamp member on said ski for receiving the toe end portion of the sole of said shoe, a toggle unit mounted on said ski in advance of said clamp member, a plate slidably disposed between said ski and said shoe and having a rear end detachably securable to said shoe, a spring having one end operatively connected with said toggle unit and its other end attached to said plate for urging the latter and said shoe forwardly into clamped engagement with said clamp member, and means for releasably holding said plate in a predetermined rearward position while said spring is held under tension by said toggle unit.

6. In a ski and ski shoe assembly, apparatus for detachably securing said ski and said ski shoe together including a toe clamp fixed to said ski, a draw bar element disposed between said shoe and said ski comprising forward and rear sections having a resilient element yieldably connecting the adjacent ends thereof, said resilient element being disposed adjacent the instep portion of said shoe, means for detachably connecting said rear section to the heel end portion of said shoe, a spring attached to the front end of said forward section, and means on said ski attached to said spring for tensioning the latter to urge said shoe forwardly into said clamp and for simultaneously tensioning said resilient element to resiliently yieldably oppose movement of said heel portion of said shoe from said ski.

'1. In a ski and ski shoe assembly; apparatus for detachably securing said ski and said ski shoe I together including a toe clamp fixed to said ski, a draw bar element disposed between said shoe and said ski comprising forward and rear sections having a resilient element yieldably connecting the adjacent ends thereof, said resilient element being disposed adjacent the instep portion of said shoe, means for detachably connecting said rear section to the heel end portion of said shoe, a spring attached to the front end of said forward section, means on said ski attached to said spring for tensioning the latter to urge said shoe forwardly into said clamp and for simultaneously tensioning said resilient element to resiliently yieldably oppose movement of said heel portion of said shoe from said ski, and an adjustable element associated with said resilient member for selectively predetermining the effective opposition thereof to said heel movement.

8. In a ski and ski shoe assembly; apparatus for detachably securing said ski and said ski shoe together including a toe clamp fixed to said ski, a draw bar element disposed between said shoe and said ski comprising forward and rear sections having a resilient element yieldably connectingthe adjacent ends thereof, said resilient element being disposed adjacent the instep portion of said shoe, means for detachably connecting said rear section to the heel end portion of said shoe, a spring attached to the front end of said forward section, means on said ski attached to said spring for tensioning the latter to urge said shoe forwardly into said clamp and for simultaneously'tensioning said resilient element to resiliently yieldably oppose movement of said heel portion of said shoe from said ski, and means for releasably holding the forward section of said draw bar against movement in response to tensioning of said spring for accommodating pre-loading of the latter in advance of assembly of said ski and said shoe.

9. In combination with a ski and ski shoe, means for detachably securing said ski and ski shoe together comprising a clamp element on said ski engageable with said shoe, an abutment on said shoe disposed at the instep portion thereof, draw bar mechanism having an end detachablyengageable with said abutment, means including a resilient member for actuating said draw bar mechanism, and mechanism for releasably holding said draw bar mechanism against movement by said resilient member from a predetermined position to accommodate preloading of said spring.

10.- A ski harness including a toe clamp element adapted for attachment to a ski, an operating lever adapted to be secured 'to said ski in advance of said clamp element, mechanism for resiliently urging the toe end portion of a shoe into said clamp element including means adapted for connection to said operating lever and to the heel end portion of said shoe respectively and having a resilient intermediate portion comprising a sheet rubber portion beneath said shoe and adjacent the heel end part thereof and adapted to yieldably oppose relative separatory movement of the heel end portion of said shoe and said ski; and means selectively engageable with said rubber portion at diverse positions along its length for adjustably predetermining said opposition to said relative movement of said ski and said shoe.

11. A ski' harness including a toe clamp element adapted for attachment toa ski, an operating lever adapted to be secured to said ski in advance of said clamp element, a resilient element operatively connected with said lever and adapted to be tensioned thereby, mechanism for connecting said resilient element and the heel end portion of said shoe to operatively urge the toe end portion of the latter into said clamor element and adapted to yieldably oppose relative separatory movement of the heel end portion of said shoe and said ski, said mechanism including a sheet-like rubber element disposed between said ski and said shoe, and a detent adapted to releasably hold said mechanism against movement in response to actuation of said lever for accommodating pre-loading of said resilient ele ment.

12. A ski harness including a toe clamp element adapted for attachment to a ski, an onerating lever adapted to be secured tosaid ski in advance of said clamp element, a resilient element operatively connected with said lever and adapted to be tensioned thereby, mechanism for connecting said resilient element and the heel end portion of said shoe to operatively urge the toe end portion of the latter into said clamp element and adapted to yieldably oppose relative separatory movement of the heel end part of said shoe and said ski, said mechanism including an elongatible resilient member disposed 'between said ski and. said shoe, adjustable means coacting with said last mentioned resilient member for selectively predetermining said opposition to said relative movement of said ski and said shoe, and a detent adapted to releasably hold said mechanism against movement in response to actuation of saidoperating lever for accommodating' pre-loading of said resilient element.

DAVID A. WALLACE. 

